West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-10-20

herald announced in a loud voice that her
royal highness would now deign 10 re
ceive offers; aud that going in suitors
would please take the right hand door.
and coming out the left hand door. that
mus collisions of painful and disturb
ing nature might be avoided, and that.
furthermore, no suicides were allowed i'm
the royal presence. An immediate rush
cnsued toward the entrance. which
opcned directly into the great hall where
the Princess sat upon her throne. with
thousands of cushions lying before her
over the floor, that suitors might not
catch cold from kneeling too long upon
the marble pavement, while huge hogs
heads, filled with highly-colored and
various-sized mi,tens, were piled up
artistically in the background
"Beautifur' is no fit word wherewith to
describe this Princess. Had Webster or
worcester or any other dictionarian
seen her, he would certainly have in
vented some word on the spot more ca
pablc of expressing the charm and grace
and perfect proportion Of feature, form
and soul which went to make up this
rare and wonderful maiden.
And now, one after another, with diff
ierent degrees OF assurance, ecstasy, sen
timent and pride, the crowd of suitors
made their efforts, eXtolling their several
eNcellcncies and advantages over each
other and everybody else, and modestly
bringing into view those points wherein
they bid defiance TO the human race at
large and aspircd 10 bc divinities. But
TO-DAY, as yesterday, none was found
superior to the Princess. One after an
other was duly admitted and dismissed
with a nnnncn1at.,,.,. \ II
that his name should not he handed i'm
TO Mrs. Grundy, whl, pen i'm hand. SAT in
the reporters chair; and still the little
Princess waited SIN ling and peerless.
upon her throne, in royal but wearyinp
nglc-blcsscdness. Yet all this while
the strange young man, who had come
IN with tho rest, said never word 10
press his suit, and while the others were
praying and groaning and making no end
of to-do, he alone stood upright and
silent, and held his head straight and
high as if in proud disdan.
The little Princess was only woman
after all, so, of course, she grew piqucd
at In t.
''Pray, why do you come here. YOU.
she said, pointing her tiny ivory finger at
him, with an inimitablc mixture Of grace
and scorn, "lf n Il 20 WOO me with the
rest ~
81 come to wed, lady. not to WOO. " hc
answered gravcly, and moved forward
with mbcnding head.
TO wcdI' echoed the Princess, with a
laugh that rang torth so dciciously
sweet, that TO hear it was TO think only
of the ripple Of silver waves against
shores of the purcst crystal And pray,
friend, is that your wedding garbl"
''Shc whom l love will look to the
heart rather than to the raimcnt," an
swered he, as unabash d and gravcly ms
before; and the Princess felt rcbukcd
and bit her sweet lips
"Icty you bring no gift in your hands, "
she said. GLOW dare you ask aught of
mel'
lie looked at her and smiled, and she
saw that his smile was sweet.
Lady, claim but git for gift I
bring you my heart. Give me therefore
yours"
"Yet you do not kneel in the asking.
she said. GLOW may listen to such a
praycrln
Lady" he auswcrcd-and he looked
tall and noble standing upright alone.
amid the sea Of bowed heads around-"I
do not kneel, because come neither to
beg nor to pray, but to demand my
right
"ITow dare youw cried the Princess.
frightened at language so strangely un
soften d to meet her delicate royal ears.
GLOW dare your"
"Lovc darcs all. or is no love" an
swcrcd he, aud smiled still
al have sworn that ! will wed none
save him who is in all my superior"
said the Princess, and looked at him
curious!y. "no you call yourself my
supcr.or7 arc You so vainT And she
drew up her exquisite head, and laughed
n low, gurgling laugh
mo" he answered! ''For love is
hum Die; yet as humility is superior to
vanity, you are inferior to me in so far
as you claim superiority"
"Am vain, thcn2' asked the Princess,
in gricvcd surprise
Mop thuudcrcd tho crowd Of suitors
behind. "No, Not No. TO the death
with him who aflirms il! Nol No! A
thousand times nOw
'Y cs said tho Young man who stood
lcforc her; and though nc spoke 50 low.
she heard him above all the rest. and
hung her lovely head
''At least, she said, chow can you vie
with me in birth2 ! am n princess and
sit upon throne and you"
"lour throne Is scneclcss marble and
cold, dead stone, " said he, "and mine is
q wOman's heart"
you arc poor, said she, "and I am
rich"
"Nay, 10 is you who arc poor. he re-
Piled, "-incc carih's sor SO poverty is the
having only self TO love: and 7 am rich.
for loving IS wca th, and / have loved
long and vel
But I am wise and learned, said she.
] have stud cd much and profoundly.
Can you know more than 2"
Yes. answered he, "for 7 have
learned chat / am ignorant, and carih's
highest wisdom can teach no more"
But am beautiful, " she said. with
blush that spread over her face like the
sunset glow over lily. And you "--
A beauty that ices but self is blind. SO
be answered and blindness is o de.
formity ltisI therefore who am beauH-
ful, for YOU SD fll my heart that wherever
] am, YOU arc present
They say am good. stammcrc the
little Princess ne n final plea. And tears
stood in her wonderful eyes.
The young man came nclrcrand smiled